Bravo's strong meet just might get better on Saturday
The clearest indication of Joe Bravo’s plans for the rest of the year did not come on the racetrack at Del Mar. It came when Bravo went to Los Angeles last week to secure housing near Santa Anita.
“I got lucky and found a great spot,” he said.
Bravo, who relocated from his longtime summer base in New Jersey to Southern California in June, was fifth in the jockey standings at the Del Mar meeting through Sunday. Bravo had 11 wins, putting him 15 behind leader Flavien Prat.
Bravo said last weekend that he is “a little bit ahead” of where he thought he would rank at Del Mar.
“I didn’t put a goal in mind,” he said. “I wanted to try my best. I guess results show. I’m not letting up yet.”
Bravo has won two stakes at the meet – the Osunitas Stakes on Ippodamia’s Girl and the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes on Pappacap, a candidate for the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 6.
On Saturday’s Pacific Classic program, Bravo has mounts in the three turf stakes – Say the Word in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles, Count Again in the Del Mar Mile, and Tetragonal in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles.
On Friday’s eight-race program, Bravo has mounts in four races, including Edgeway in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap, a $100,000 race for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Bravo, 49, is one of the more senior members of the Del Mar jockey roster, which has changed considerably in recent years. Of the top five riders, four – Juan Hernandez, Abel Cedillo, Umberto Rispoli, and Bravo – have relocated to Southern California in recent years.
“There are great riders in there,” Bravo said. “It’s nice and they welcomed me right in. It’s made me really comfortable.”
The Del Mar meeting ends Sept. 6. Bravo said he plans to ride the final days of the Kentucky Downs meeting in September before taking a break later that month to visit family on the East Coast. The Santa Anita meeting begins Oct. 1.
Bravo said in June his decision to relocate was largely based on new regulations at Monmouth Park that restrict jockeys from using the whip in races. Bravo has been the leading rider at Monmouth Park 13 times.
Bravo began riding in California on the final weekend of the Santa Anita meeting in June.
“It’s put a spark in me,” Bravo said of the move. “My primary thing was Monmouth Park. I guess I got too comfortable. It’s rejuvenated me a lot. It’s made the game fun again.”